Our Take on the 2009 BMW X6

Our Take

By Cars.com Editors

BMW's latest foray into SUV territory comes in the form of the X6, a tallish fastback that the company calls a sports activity coupe. With seating for four, it's basically a midsize SUV with four doors, extroverted styling and a choice of two powerful engines. The X6 competes roughly wi... Read Full Report

What We Like

Inline-six power and smoothness (xDrive35i)

Ride offers good blend of comfort, sportiness

Comfortable sport seats

Interesting shape

What We Don't Like

Tall bumper makes loading cargo hard

Have to swing legs wide to step out

Rocker panels rub leg when stepping out

Poor rear visibility

Notable Features

Coupe-like styling

Choice of two turbocharged engines

Standard AWD

Four bucket seats

Reviews

Our Expert Reviews

By Mike Hanley

Editor's note: This review was written in June 2008 about the xDrive 35i version of the 2008 BMW X6. Little of substance has changed with this year's model. To see what's new for 2009, click here, or check out a side-by-side comparison of the two model years.My wife and I had just climbed out of the X6 SUV, one of BMW's newest models, and were walking away from it when she s... Read full review for the 2009 BMW X 6

Consumer Reviews

This car is a dream

by Dumbo from Riverside, CA
on April 11, 2010

Its realy the car everyone will ever dream to have. Once you drive it, you will never want to drive anything else. I had the car since Sept 09, no problems at all. Takes time to learn all the features...
Read Full Review

Roadside Assistance Coverage

Free Scheduled Maintenance

Warranties Explained

Bumper-to-Bumper

Often called a basic warranty or new-vehicle warranty, a bumper-to-bumper policy covers components like air conditioning, audio systems, vehicle sensors, fuel systems and major electrical components. Most policies exclude regular maintenance like fluid top offs and oil changes, but a few brands have separate free-maintenance provisions, and those that do offer them is slowly rising. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically expire faster than powertrain warranties.

Powertrain

Don't be misled a 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty doesn't promise a decade of free repairs for your car. It typically covers just the engine and transmission, along with any other moving parts that lead to the wheels, like the driveshaft and constant velocity joints. Some automakers also bundle seat belts and airbags into their powertrain warranties. With a few exceptions, powertrain warranties don't cover regular maintenance like engine tuneups and tire rotations.

Roadside Assistance

Some automakers include roadside assistance with their bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranties, while others have separate policies. These programs cover anything from flat-tire changes and locksmith services to jump-starts and towing. Few reimburse incidental costs like motel rooms (if you have to wait for repairs).

Free Scheduled Maintenance

Some automakers include free scheduled maintenance for items such as oil changes, air filters and tire rotations. Some include consumables including brake pads and windshield wipers; others do not. They are typically for the first couple of years of ownership of a new car.